Storms are the will of God.
The people wanted to make Jesus King (John 6:14-15). This is why Jesus sent the disciples in the boat. The disciples had argued “who was the greatest”, so the temptation was there to try to make Jesus King. As we watch the disciples go through this storm, we can rest on several assurances when we go through our storms.
ASSURANCES WE CAN REST ON DURING THE STORMS OF LIFE
1. He brought me here.
Storms of CORRECTION – when God disciplines us (Ex: Jonah)
Storms of PERFECTION – when God helps us grow
Jesus was in the boat before (Matthew 8:23-27). Now, Jesus tested them when He was out of the boat.
2. He is praying for me.
Jesus is in heaven making prayers for us (Romans 8:34). He saw the disciples and knew their situation (Mark 6:48). He knows our needs. He knows what we are going through (Hebrews 4:14-16). He knows your fears and He is in control of your situation.
3. He will come to me.
Often, we feel like Jesus has deserted us when we are going through the storms of life. But Jesus helps us in our storms, only when we are ready to “need” Him.
Why did Jesus walk on the water? To show the disciples that the thing they feared (the storm) was a staircase for Him. The storm brought Jesus closer to them, and it does the same to us.
Why did they not recognize Him? Their fear was bigger than their faith. Fear always blinds the eyes of the presence of the Lord.
4. He will help me grow.
This was the purpose of the storm. God wants me to grow. He uses storms to test my faith. This is why the scene shifts to Peter. Peter was a showcase of someone being tested. He tried to get out of the boat and meet Jesus. Only when he took his eyes off of Jesus and looked to the storm, did Peter start to fall. When we concentrate on the storm, we lose focus on Jesus.
The storms of life are not easy, but they are necessary. “Faith is not believing in spite of the evidence, but obeying in spite of the consequences.”
5. He will see me through.
Jesus will finish what He starts. He said “Come”, and Peter fell. So Jesus picked Peter up and they walked to the boat together. When Jesus calmed the first storm, they said: “Who is this Man?” When Jesus calmed this storm, the disciples said: “You are the Son of God.”
The disciples helped to feed 5000 people and then God permitted them to go through a storm. In Acts, the disciples helped to win 5000 people to Christ, and then the storm of persecution began. No doubt, Peter and the disciples looked back to this event and took courage.
The same is true with you and me. We go through storms. But they are reminders to give us courage when we go through larger storms in life.
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